Minister of Foreign Affairs Özdil Nami received the Cyprus Turkish Businessmen Association (İŞAD) headed by Metin Şadi yesterday (2 October 2013).

Speaking during the meeting, Chairman of the Cyprus Turkish Businessmen Association Metin Şadi wished success to Foreign Minister Nami in his new duty and stated that he was proud on behalf of İŞAD to see a former chairman of the association as a Minister.

Pointing out that the solution of the Cyprus problem was important for maintaining peace, as well as economic and political stability in the region, Metin Şadi said with this concern, İŞAD was consistently encouraging all the related parties towards a solution. Şadi also expressed support for the steps to be taken in the way of a solution.

For his part, Foreign Minister Nami expressing pleasure for the courtesy visit of İŞAD, thanked the association for its support  with regard to the foreign policy.

Explaining that there were disagreements between the two sides on how the negotiations would be resumed, Foreign Minister said the special representatives of the two leaders came together and started to work on a joint text.

Foreign Minister Nami stressed that the negotiation process should again be carried out at the leaders’ level and within a time frame.

Stating that the Foreign Ministry’s lobbying activities were intensively carried out by the representative offices in 20 different countries, including the USA, Özdil Nami said besides the Cyprus issue, the Ministry was also carrying out studies for eliminating the restrictions hampering country’s trade with the world.

Noting that the Ministry was also taking initiatives for further developing the relations between the TRNC and member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Foreign Minister Nami said a “Water Conference” to be attended by the OIC member countries would be hosted by the TRNC in November this year.